US franchise job gains lowest in 14 months: ADP

U.S. franchise job gains hit their lowest levels in more than a year, ADP said Wednesday.

Private-sector franchises increased by 14,720 jobs in May, or 0.2 percent month-over-month, led by restaurants and auto parts and dealers. They rose by 15,580 in April.

"Franchise job gains in May continued to be sluggish and were the lowest since February of last year," said Ahu Yildirmaz, vice president and head of the ADP Research Institute. "However, Restaurants rebounded from negative territory in April to account for over half the franchise gains this month," she said in a statement.